How does aespa “Set the Tone” for their shows? By being “Iconic,” “Spicy,” and bringing their “aenergy” – which are, fittingly, their song titles!
Innovative and high-tech K-Pop girl group aespa opened up February with their own “Spark,” at the iconic Kia Forum in Los Angeles, continuing their explosive Synk: Parallel Line world tour.
Walking into the venue, where many legends have graced the stage, we were met with a sea of fans gathered around with their lightsticks, eagerly awaiting the show.
Having seen the group last year, I was looking forward to experiencing a new setlist with fresh new concepts, including their AI ‘member’ nævis, as well as recent releases such as “Whiplash” and solo songs from the members — Winter, Giselle, Ningning, and Karina.
aespa made their grand entrance through a stage-designed gate, dressed in sparkly white gowns glowing up the stage, that reminded me of something a princess would wear, contrasted by dancers in all-black ensembles.
The four kicked off the night with an intense rock version of the addictive track “Drama,” followed by their debut song, “Black Mamba,” which included a fun, quick-change skirt reveal.
Performances like “Salty & Sweet” gave each member their moment to shine, showcasing their individuality and growth as performers since the last time we met with them.
By the third song, the entire crowd was hyped “Up!” The momentum then led into a VCR that followed a quite confusing storyline, but it was fun to follow nonetheless – before the members returned to perform “Supernova.” This standout track had some of the loudest cheers and fan chants of the night, thanks to its addictive “whoa oh oh aye” hook.
“Mine” was up next, which featured intense choreography, accompanied by a cage-like set that beautifully fit their futuristic, cyber-inspired concept and aesthetic.
Afterwards, the members gathered on stage together to greet the audience and introduce the next track, “Die Trying” featuring TOKiMONSTA – a USA-exclusive song with a more laid-back, vibey feel.
The next set brought “Flights Not Feelings” to the stage, with relatable lyrics that hit hard, followed by “Better Things,” fittingly featuring the line, “You can only see me at our sold-out shows,” which rang true at this sold-out Los Angeles stop!
After a more chill segment, it was time for the night’s solo performances:
- Giselle ignited the stage with the sultry “Dopamine.”
- Karina followed with “Up!”—a high-energy track that had everyone on their feet dancing and shouting.
- Ningning performed “Bored!” which was anything but boring, showcasing her dynamic stage presence and insane vocal range.
- Winter closed out the solo stages with “Spark,” delivering the most intricate solo choreography of the night, complete with waacking and handkerchief choreography, proving she’s a performance powerhouse.
The group then reunited in pink hoodies (duh!) to perform “Spicy” and “Pink Hoodie,” giving a more relaxed and playful vibe this time around to chill off the audience. During this segment, they took a moment to shout out special audience attendees, including labelmate EXO’s Suho, causing the crowd to erupt with excitement.
The members then riled up the fans for the next set of performances, encouraging them to jump around for the following tracks:
- “Hold on Tight” performed in a remix style. Showcasing Ningning’s beautiful acoustic intro before diving into an energetic dance break.
- “Live My Life” and “We Go,” which got the crowd jumping whilst pink confetti flooded the venue.
After a short break, the spotlight was on nævis, aespa’s AI counterpart, who performed “Done”—a nod to the group’s ongoing AI narrative that adds a unique, conceptual layer to their concerts.
After nævis was ‘done,’ the group returned to perform some more fan-favorite hits:
- “Whiplash”
- “Set the Tone,”
- “Next Level,”
- “Armageddon.”
Following these explosive performances, the backup dancers took center stage for a moment, each showing off their incredible moves—including a headspin that had the audience roaring! A beautiful nod to the efforts put in by each person in the ensemble.
For the encore, aespa returned with:
- “aenergy,”
- “Just Another Girl,” and
- “Life’s Too Short,” their first-ever English track, which closed the show with confetti raining down and a heartfelt group photo to thank fans for attending – such a beautiful ending frame.
This time around, aespa brought their signature “ICONIC” energy with fresh touches, dynamic concepts, and insane performances. If you’re ever in the mood for an unforgettable concert experience, aespa is guaranteed to deliver!
You can catch them on the Synk: Parallel Line tour at upcoming stops in Toronto, Chicago, England, France, Spain, Korea, and more!
Photo Courtesy: Andy Keilen/Kia Forum
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